Note 201 — THE WAR OF 1812
Reading edition
It is a fact well ascertained that during a great part of the summer of 1814 the knight was under such serious apprehensions of being blown up by the Torpedo men, that he enjoyed no sleep or rest for many nights together. With such feelings, and under such impressions, he is supposed to begin his soliloquy abruptly, under all the emotions of horror, incident to such an occasion.—Freneau's note.
Sir Thomas Hardy was commander of the 74 gun ship Ramillies, the leader of the squadron which lay off New London during the summer of 1814. The following in Niles' Register, May 7, 1814, is suggestive: "It appears the British squadron off New London are yet disturbed by torpedoes. One of them lately exploded under the sprit-sail yard of the La Hoque, and threw up a volume of water near her fore top. The enemy, it seems, has a list of the persons concerned in the management of these machines!"